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Anil Kumar's Sunday Satsang at
Prasanthi Nilayam
September 21, 2003
The Sunday Talk Given by Anil Kumar
“Dasara” Part I
21st September 2003
OM… OM… OM…
Sai Ram
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
I welcome you all to this morning’s session. For the last two
days, you must have observed Veda recitation taking place daily in
the evening, while bhajans are going on. We have bhajan and Veda
recitation simultaneously. I feel that the Dasara mood has already
set in. So I thought that we should also set our minds in tune
with the Dasara mood and the Dasara celebrations.
Dasara celebrations commence on the 27th of September and conclude
on the 5th of October, as per the calendar. I am not making any
official announcement as far as the ashram is concerned. I am
speaking about these dates based on the calendar - please
underline, calendar! (Some people might misquote me or
misunderstand me, so I have to arrange for my safety and
security.) (Laughter)
The Dasara celebrations commence on the 27th and conclude on the
5th. Usually a weeklong celebration is observed here. If it is
going to take place, we may have it start from the 29th. This is
also a speculation, not a confirmation – underline, no
confirmation!
We have a sacrificial ritual, an annual sacrificial practice, that
we call yajna. It is performed every year, coinciding with the
nine-day celebration. The nine-day celebration is called
Navarathri. Nava means ‘nine’; rathri means ‘nights’.
I would like to explain the significance of the yajna and the
process of yajna, as a sort of homework, before we actually
participate. If we do some groundwork, we will be able to
appreciate what we see, and we will be able to actively
participate in that yajna, being the beneficiaries of that
important ritual, which may take place during that time. Keeping
these points in view, I have chosen to speak to you this morning
on yajna.
DURGA, LAKSHMI, SARASWATHI
The three names that you will often hear are Durga, Lakshmi and
Saraswathi. You will often hear these three names of the deities
during the nine-day period. They are repeated and recited by
priests, who perform the yajna. We also have a bhajan to these
deities:
Durga, Laksmi, Saraswathi, Sai Jaganmaatha,
Durga, Laksmi, Saraswathi, Sai Jaganmaatha.
These are the three presiding deities - Durga, Lakshmi and
Saraswathi. The whole spiritual activity during the nine-day
celebration centers around these three deities.
My friends, names may be many, but the spirit is One. Names may be
many, but God is One. Each aspect is given one name, like any of
us. You are a parent at home; you are the officer in your office;
you are a brother in your family; a friend outside; and a citizen
in the country. You have so many portfolios, don’t you? Likewise,
there are so many Names given to explain each of the aspects of
Divinity.
This morning we are trying to learn the different aspects of
Divinity. During this season of Dasara, three aspects of Divinity
are dealt with in depth: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. It is a
three-dimensional view of Divinity. I think I am clear.
KRIYASAKTHI, ICHASAKTHI, JNANASAKTHI
The first aspect, Durga, stands for the power of action. One
should necessarily act to be successful in life. By worshipping
God, by thinking of Him, by contemplating on Him, you have more of
what is called Kriyasakthi. Kriyasakthi means the power to act,
the will to act. (As a teacher, I can’t go wrong in my spelling!)
Kriyasakthi is the power of action.
Lakshmi, the second deity, the second aspect of the Divinity,
stands for Ichasakthi. So, Kriyasakthi means the power of action
and Ichasakthi means will power. I think I am clear. I repeat
again: Durga symbolizes Kriyasakthi, the power of action, while
Lakshmi stands for Ichasakthi, will power.
Now, Saraswathi, the third aspect, represents Jnanasakthi, the
power of discrimination. I repeat again: Durga symbolizes
Kriyasakthi, the power of action; Lakshmi stands for Ichasakthi,
will power; Saraswathi represents Jnanasakthi, the power of
discrimination. So, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi are the power of
action, will power and the power of discrimination.
Nobody will ever say, “I don’t need one of the three. I don’t need
to have will power.” Without it, a person would be an utter
failure! No one would ever say, “I don’t need to have the power of
action.” It would be literal death! Nobody would say, “I don’t
need the power of discrimination.” He would be worse than an
animal! So, we need all these three faculties – action, will and
discrimination, which are Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi.
Then, there are three other Names associated with these first
three Names. What are they? Gayathri, Savithri and Saraswathi.
These three Names are associated with the earlier three Names, and
are more or less synonymous, or having the same meaning. There are
different names, just as we have a first name, a last name and a
nickname, which is a name given to us by friends. These are
different Names here also, but actually they convey the same
spirit.
Gayathri, Savithri, Saraswathi -- what do they stand for? Most of
you must be reciting the Gayathri Manthra. To my surprise, to my
astonishment and to my pleasure, I often stop wherever our friends
are repeating the Gayathri Manthra when they assemble in groups in
the evening. I should tell you that all of you can recite the
Gayathri Manthra far, far better than natives of this country, far
more sincerely than people who are born in this country. That is
amazing. That is the power of Sai! The power of Sai is very much
reflected in these people. They are repeating the Gayathri Manthra
in perfect intonation, with a perfect accent. That’s really great.
THE GAYATHRI MANTHRA
The Gayathri Manthra, as you all know, is:
Om Bhoor Bhuvah Suvaha,
Tat Savitur Varenyam,
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi,
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayaat.
Om Bhoor Bhuvah Suvaha: These three words -- Bhoor, Bhuvah, Suvaha
-- Bhoor is Gayathri or Durga; Bhuvah is Savithri, who is Lakshmi;
Suvaha is Saraswathi. Am I clear? So, Bhoor, Bhuvah, Suvaha are
Gayathri, Savithri and Saraswathi. Or, you can call them Durga,
Lakshmi and Saraswathi – the power of action, will power and the
power of discrimination. Am I clear?
What does Bhoor mean? Bhoor pertains to the body. The body should
be healthy. The body should be an effective instrument in the
Hands of God, in order to participate in the Divine mission. The
body should be perfect. We pray to God, Bhoor, “Oh God, make me
physically fit. Oh God, make me physically strong. Oh God, make
this body an effective instrument in Thy Hands!” That is body,
Bhoor.
The second aspect, Bhuvah, relates to the mind. The mind should
also be alert. The mind should be awakened. The mind should be
sensitive. The mind should be receptive. The mind should be
sacred. The mind should be positive. When the mind is not
positive, when it is not prepared, when it is static, when it is
dull, when it is inert, it is a useless mind! That mind has to be
treated by a psychiatrist. Therefore, I pray, “Oh God! Make my
mind alert, make my mind powerful, make my mind sensitive.” That
is Bhuvah, the mind.
The third one is Suvaha. Suvaha pertains to the Atma, the spirit
or consciousness. The life behind the mind, the consciousness, the
spirit, the soul behind this mind is Atma, the consciousness. That
is Suvaha. The body represents materialisation. Body is composed
of various materials, various limbs. So, Bhoor is materialisation,
Bhuvah is vibration, and Suvaha is radiation or Atmic power.
I have collected all of Bhagavan’s discourses, which have been
given during the Dasara season. Being a student of science, I
thought that it would be fine if I put it in a tabular form. This
will give us a summary of at least half a dozen discourses, I am
more than certain. We are living in a computer age where things
have to be supplied as a package deal. Am I right? So, this is a
package supply of information covering Durga, Lakshmi and
Saraswathi.
So, Durga is Kriyasakthi - the power of action. Durga is Gayathri,
or what we call Bhoor, which represents the body. It is the
materialisation. That’s the first step.
The next one is Lakshmi, the Ichasakthi, or will power. Lakshmi is
Savithri, Bhuvaha, representing the mind, which is the life
principle or vibration.
And thirdly, Saraswathi or Jnanasakthi, the power of
discrimination, represents Suvaha, which symbolizes Atma,
consciousness. This is radiation.
So, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi represent materialisation,
vibration and radiation. Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, and Gayathri,
Savithri, Saraswathi, all mean the same respectively. In other
words, to remember them all, I’ll give you a simple clue: M.B.A.
M.B.A. is a very important course. There is a great demand for
admission into the M.B.A. course. M.B.A. is M = mind, B = body, A
= Atma. Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi: B or body = Durga. M or mind =
Lakshmi; A or Atma = Saraswathi. That is M.B.A. So, we should have
that M.B.A degree. We all have it - body, mind and Atma; Durga,
Lakshmi and Saraswathi; or Gayathri, Savithri and Saraswathi;
materialisation, vibration and radiation; or, what you call, the
power of action, will power and the power of discrimination.
If I repeat this again, it might appear as if I am taking you back
to the fundamentals. I am highly aware of the fact that all of you
are well informed about these aspects. These classes are meant
more for my benefit, rather than benefiting anybody else. This
gives me an opportunity to go through all that Bhagavan has said
on earlier occasions and relate these to the present occasion,
when a situation demands or arises. This is the first aspect that
I wanted to bring to your attention.
GODDESS SARASWATHI
Then let us discuss the second aspect. Bhagavan has said a few
things about Saraswathi. Saraswathi is Divinity, the Divine
aspect. These are the points:
Saraswathi has another name - Bharathi. This country of India is
also called Bharath. Some people think Bharath is the name of a
king, after whom this country was named. According to Swami, this
interpretation is totally wrong. He said that before the birth of
Bharath, this country existed. What was the name of this country
before Bharath was born? This country of Bharath was there even
before his birth.
Therefore, this country is named Bharath after Bharathi, a Vedic
term, a word found in the Vedas. That’s what Bhagavan said, which
is a matter of revelation to most of us. We think that Bharath is
the name of the king, after whom this country was named; but this
is not so. According to Swami, Bharathi is a Vedic term, a Vedic
word, after which this country was named.
Saraswathi has the swan, hamsa, as Her chariot. The swan, hamsa,
has the faculty of separating water from milk. Hamsa, the swan,
can separate water and milk. The swan has this beautiful gift,
meaning the sense of discrimination.
Also here, hamsa represents the breath, the breathing process -
inhalation and exhalation. Breath! If there is anything wrong with
our breathing process, we need to go to the Super Speciality
Hospital. The breathing process should be normal. The breathing
process is a sign of a person being alive. When the breathing
process stops, well, he will appear under the obituary column! So,
the breathing process is the life process, and that is called
Hamsavahini. Vahini means the chariot. Hamsa, the swan, is the
chariot of Saraswathi, who represents our breathing process, or
the life principal.
Saraswathi has another name, which is ‘Deepthi’. Deepthi means
‘light’. By praying to Goddess Saraswathi, the darkness of
ignorance is shed. The darkness of ignorance is dispelled with the
light of knowledge. With the light of knowledge, the darkness of
ignorance is totally gone, is totally dispelled. By praying to
Goddess Saraswathi or Deepthi, you are going to be full of light.
Deepthi means you are radiant, you are vibrant, you are full of
awareness, you are awakened, aware and alert.
Bhagavan refers to other aspects of Saraswathi as Sabdabrahmamayi.
God is responsible for all the sound, the primal sound, the sound
within everybody.
Then, Characharamayi: God is the source of the mobile and
immobile, the motile and immotile, or whatever you may call it.
The present day science also speaks of this. All matter, no matter
what it is, is composed of atoms and molecules. They, in turn, are
comprised of electrons, protons and neutrons. Electrons, protons
and neutrons revolve in different orbits. They liberate energy.
Electrons, protons and neutrons jump from one orbit to another,
liberating energy. That energy is the source of life. I am living,
dynamic. Non-living is static. That is apparent. That is only
external. But inherently, deep within, organic or inorganic, all
material is composed of molecules, atoms, protons, electrons and
neutrons, dissipating energy, which is the source of life -
Characharamayi.
Next comes Jyothirmayi: The light is because of Divinity.
Jyothirmayi is ‘light’.
Vangmayi: Your talk, your word, is the speech faculty.
Next, the whole nature is Mayamayi.
Then there is Nityanandamayi, which is Eternal Bliss.
Paratparamayi is the Divinity.
Sreemayi represents wealth.
Swami, in His discourses, repeats these words very fast. Well,
that really shakes me, perhaps for your entertainment. I am
literally shaken, because Swami says them very quickly:
Sabdabrahmamayi, Characharamayi, Jyothirmayi, Vangmayi…(Laughter).
But if I am given some time, I will be able to say them. That is
the Divine melody, or the Divine Romance.
So, these are the eight aspects of the Divinity: Sabdabrahmamayi,
Characharamayi, Jyothirmayi, Vangmayi, Mayanayi, Nityanandamayi,
Paratparamayi, Sreemayi, which represent the sound, movement,
light, speech, nature, bliss, Divinity and wealth. They all come
under Saraswathi, the Goddess whom we worship during this season
of Dasara.
Now, we come to the third point: You also hear another name –
‘Parasakthi’. During Dasara, we also worship Parasakthi.
Parasakthi pertains to the victory of the devas over the asuras -
the righteous over the demonic. Righteous people will win over the
unrighteous. Good people will certainly win over bad people. The
good will survive; the evil shall perish. The triumph of good over
the wicked, that is the meaning of Parasakthi.
Further, Parasakthi also represents the Kundalini power. In our
back, there are six chakras, which we call shadchakra. Shadchakras
are present in our back. The chakra at the bottom is called the
Mooladhara chakra. The chakra on the top is the Sahasrara chakra.
So, on the top is Sahasrara, while at the bottom is Mooladhara. By
praying to the Goddess Parasakthi, the Kundalini or Divine power
ascends from the primordial Mooladhara chakra. The movement of the
Kundalini across the six chakras is the process of awakening or
enlightenment, by which we can enjoy peace and joy. That is the
meaning behind the worship of Parasakthi.
YAJNA
Then I come to the fourth aspect -- yajna. Yajna is undertaken
every year during this season of Dasara. Why? What is happening in
the yajna? On the dais, you find many priests sitting, lined up,
dressed well. You find some priests sitting at the center, with an
altar of smoke and fire. You find priests reciting slokas. We hear
them and we want to know what it is.
In the Poornachandra Auditorium, at the center of the stage, you
find the yajna. You see the sacrificial fire, the smoke and
priests around it. What is it all about? Bhagavan explains clearly
the various aspects of yajna.
In the Poornachandra Auditorium, the central raised place is the
altar, which represents the human mind. That place with the
sacrificial fire, that particular altar, represents the human
mind. You find the priests making various offerings. They are
called havis. Havis are the offerings. What are they? What are you
supposed to offer? Your desires, anger, jealousy, pride - the list
is endless.
Then you have the fire. That fire is the human heart. And the
smoke coming out of it, homam, is sacredness. You find people
repeating manthras. You also find some yanthra, the mystical
structure, kept there in that altar, which represents all the
money that you spend, all the resources that you have, all that
you offer for the successful conduct of yajna.
And finally, we find those priests wearing silk dhotis, silk
robes, which are given by Bhagavan. As they wear red silk dhotis,
as they walk, each one feels like a bridegroom. Well, that is a
special dress, a special priestly costume. Likewise, we also have
a convocation costume, when we attend our convocation as a
teacher. Similarly, the priests also have a special design, a
special costume. The silk robe represents purity and selflessness.
You find a very pleasant smell at the place where the yajna is
conducted. So many condiments, so many precious things are offered
there. These condiments and perfumes are aromatic and fragrant.
They represent the human values like Truth, Righteousness, Peace
and Love. So, my friends, the yajna conducted here is symbolic. It
represents the mind, desires, the heart, sacredness, our
resources, purity, selflessness, human values and what not!
Some of you may ask, “How can you interpret that way? Are they
really symbolic? How can I accept it in this scientific age? In
this age of computers, how can I accept this? It is all your
imagination. It is all your interpretation.”
Maybe these are the questions that some might entertain within.
But the truth is this: On the day of Independence, we salute our
national flag. The flag is nothing but a piece of cloth. Why
should you salute that piece of cloth? That piece of cloth
represents your country. Therefore, when you salute it, you
respect your national flag. It is not a simple piece of cloth. No.
It represents a nation. Don’t you think so?
Then the stamp that we affix on an envelope, a postal stamp, it
represents value. Unless you put a stamp on it, the letter will
not be delivered. It will be sent back to you. Is it not so? The
stamp attaches value. The signature of the Reserve Bank governor
attaches value to the currency note. A currency note, after all,
is just paper. Yet, you keep it in your pocket. You keep it in the
safety deposit locker. Why? It is not just paper. It is money,
currency!
Similarly, it is not simply a yajna; it is not a game. No. It is
not a matter of fun and frolic. Certainly not! It is not a simple
ritual. No. Do not condemn it as a traditional, ancient, archaic
spiritual activity, no. It is ultra-modern.
Such activities are needed now more than ever before. Why? In the
days when these yajnas were conducted, the country had timely
rain. People never died of drought. There was never a situation
when there was no rain at all. The country never passed through
drought for a prolonged period of time. Because of yajna, there
was no famine at all. A ritual becomes spiritual, and ultimately,
that guarantees physical life.
So, physical life is based on the spiritual content and the
spiritual content is based on the ritual. These are the three
levels -- ritual, spiritual and physical. We don’t want spiritual;
we don’t want ritual; yet, we want the physical. This mentality
deserves a place either in a mental hospital or just death. There
is no other alternative; there is no safety; there is no security.
Yajna is conducted everywhere for people to live in affluent
plenty and prosperity, in safety and security. That is the fourth
aspect.
PRIESTS INVOLVED IN YAJNA
The fifth aspect: You find priests sitting there on the dais. Why
don’t I also go and sit? I am not eligible. Why don’t you go and
sit? Why does it take time? Who are those people? Why do they sit
there? Why not you and me?
They have some designations. Yes. The person who stands behind the
President of India is his bodyguard. The person who stands in
front of His residence is a watch guard. Understand? The one who
carries a rifle and a pistol is a soldier. Each army person has a
duty to perform. All right.
Why don’t I wear the dress? I can wear the uniform, but it would
only be a drama. I don’t know how to handle a rifle. I might wear
the uniform of a soldier, maybe for a photograph, but not for any
performance. Am I clear?
Priests also have specially designed tasks, specially assigned
jobs to perform. What are they?
One gentleman, the head priest’s name, is Brahma. That is the job
title, not that he is called Brahma.
After the yajna, you can’t say, “Oh Brahma, please come here!” No!
No! No! (Laughter)
By profession, I am a lecturer. ‘Lecturer’ is not my name. My name
is Anil Kumar, but my profession is a lecturer.
“Oh lecturer! Come on.”
You cannot call me like that. I will file a suit against you!
(Laughter) (I have become more legal- conscious after a recent
visit the U.S.!) (Laughter)
The point is that you can’t call me by virtue of the name of my
profession. Am I right? Therefore, the point is that the chief
priest is Brahma and he recites a very important Veda named
Atharva Veda. He goes on chanting, repeating that Veda.
“Sir, I want to be Brahma.”
“Come on, you recite Atharva Veda! Then you can go and sit there.”
“I don’t know it.”
“So, you cannot be a Brahma.”
The second priest is Hotha. He recites another Veda named Rig
Veda.
The third priest is Udgatha. He recites a Veda named Sama Veda.
The fourth priest is Adhwarya. He recites a Veda named Yajur Veda.
These are the four important priests around the altar. They will
be reciting, they will be repeating each of the four Vedas. Am I
clear? That is the fifth aspect, which I want to draw your
attention to.
READING OF SCRIPTURE- PARAYANAM
The sixth aspect: You find some priests sitting on either side of
the dais. These priests go on reading. “What do they read?” we
wonder. They don’t read newspapers, no. (Laughter) They don’t read
any novels. Certainly not! They read certain sacred texts.
This process of reading a spiritual text is called parayanam.
Parayanam means reading a scripture. Being the product of a
Christian college, I know that on every Christian occasion, there
will be a scripture reading. There is the Gospel according to
Timothy, the Gospel according to Luke, the Gospel according to
Mark or the Gospel according to St. John. On every occasion,
someone will be reading portions from the scripture.
In Sikhism, Guru Granth is read, which is a sacred activity.
Scripture reading is very sacred, that is why it is called
parayanam.
What do they read? Devi Bhagawatham is one book. Devi Bhagawatham
speaks of the energy aspect of the universe. Energy, the cosmic
energy, the dynamism, is depicted in the Devi Bhagawatham.
Another sacred book that is read there is Ramayanam, the story of
Ramachandra, the earlier Incarnation. These scriptures are read
there on the dais.
SALUTATIONS TO SUN-GOD -- SURYANAMASKARAM
You also see some people doing namaskar, salutations, getting up,
prostrating, and when Swami is present, going around Him. Why
should someone do that? When others are simply keeping quiet, why
is this man doing that? Why don’t the others also go around
Bhagavan? It is not possible. There are certain rituals performed
by certain priests.
One priest does Suryanamaskara. Surya is sun, the sun god. The
priest will have some design there on the ground, a design of the
solar system. He will be prostrating; he will be worshipping that
design of the solar system. Once Swami comes there on the dais, he
will say, “Oh Bhagavan! You are the sun god!” So, he will go
around Him.
When you see me, you don’t need to look at my photo, do you? When
a person is here, why do you need to look at his photo? So when
Bhagavan, the sun god, is there, why pray to that design? It is
not necessary. So, when Bhagavan is seated on the dais, that man
will get up and go around Him because Bhagavan is identified as
Aditya, the sun god himself. Am I clear please? That is
Suryanamaskara.
Then there is another person, who will be worshipping Rudrahomam.
Rudra ensures the Bhadra. Bhadra means safety. Bhadra is security.
We need safety and security in our life. By doing this Rudrahomam,
one will have all safety and security in their lifetime.
Then we have the recitation of Veda, Vedaparayanam and
Sahasralingarchanam. There will be so many lingas there. You must
have seen lingas. I don’t need to speak at length about linga.
Linga is a symbol of life. Bhagavan has said that linga is a
symbol into which the entire cosmos finally merges back.
So, the whole creation came out of linga, the whole creation is
sustained by linga, and the creation merges back into the linga.
It means the lingam represents creation, sustenance and
annihilation. Sahasralingarchana means worshipping the three
principles of creation, maintenance and annihilation.
These are the rituals that will be performed on the dais. These
are the texts, which will be read on the dais. These are the jobs
of the priests, who will be doing their assigned tasks on the dais
during this yajna period.
VISHNU- THE PRESIDING DEITY
I would like to draw your attention to another point. Who presides
over this yajna?
You find the President presiding over the Lok Sabha. You find the
Vice President of the country presiding over the Rajya Sabha. The
Governor presides over the legislative assemblies in the
respective states. Who presides over this yajna, the sacred ritual
going on there? The presiding deity of this yajna is given the
name ‘Vishnu’. The One who presides over this yajna is God.
Yajnovy Vishnuhu.
Vishnu is God, who presides over the whole activity of the yajna
here. The President presides over the Lok Sabha (Senate); but at
home, he doesn’t preside over anybody! Am I right? Similarly, God
in that position, God in that designation of presiding over the
yajna, is called ‘Vishnu’. Vishnu, God as the presiding deity of
the yajna, has the following tasks, the following
responsibilities.
What are they? Yajnabhruth means that He is the master of the
yajna. The second is yajnakruth. He is the performer of the yajna.
The third is yajnabhuk, the receiver of the yajna. The one who
performs the yajna, the one who accepts the yajna, and the process
of yajna is the same - the same Divinity. The performer, the
acceptor or the receiver, and the process of yajna, all three are
the same and are given these three names: yajnabhruth, yajnakruth,
yajnabhuk. This is what Bhagavan said during His discourses.
Now I draw your attention to another aspect of yajna. What are the
objectives? What is the ultimate purpose behind this yajna? I want
to present before you certain other important points in this
connection.
SELF-REALISATION
One: By performing yajna, you will have that deservedness or
prapthi. What is it that you deserve? It is Self-realization, Atma
consciousness. My friends, some of you may have a doubt now.
Should all of us do yajna?
“Shall I arrange it in Italy or in the United States or in Russia,
wherever I belong? Is it possible to do yajna all over the world?”
Please be very clear. Brothers and sisters, I want your special
attention to this statement. Lend me your ears. What does Bhagavan
say?
“ANY SELFLESS, PURE ACTIVITY UNDERTAKEN WITH LOVE IS YAJNA.”
That’s it! A selfless, pure activity, undertaken with Love, is
yajna. The fire and the offerings and the priests are not
necessary. Doing your job selflessly, what you call ‘being devoted
to your duty with a spirit of Love’, that is yajna. You may be a
professor, you may be a doctor, you may be an engineer or you may
be a businessman. Whatever you do, once you offer yourself to God
and do your activity with Love, selflessly and with purity, that
itself is yajna. It does not require any special activity; it does
not require any manthra to be chanted or Veda to be recited or
read. It is not necessary! Do it dutifully, diligently,
selflessly, with all your heart, mind, soul, and that is called
yajna. Bhagavan gave that beautiful definition, which will support
our own way of life, our own walk of life.
The point is deservedness. When I do my duty with purity,
selflessly and with Love, I will have the vision of the Divine
within. I will have the vision.
I am not saying a dream. My friends, be cautious of this. Some
people say, “I had a dream last night.” Please continue to dream
throughout your life. Life is not a dreamland. There are some
people who go on harassing you, who go on chasing you with their
dream experiences. Please beware of these dreamers. Life is not a
dream. Life is a reality! Life is here and now, not in the dream.
I am not speaking of dreams; I am speaking of vision. A vision is
different from a dream. A dream is psychological, while vision is
spiritual. Dream is an unfulfilled desire; dream is an unfulfilled
task; dream is revengeful, full of reaction, reflection and
resounds. Whereas, vision is creative, vision is spiritual and
vision is Divine. Therefore, the point is that you will have the
vision of the Self, that experience of the Self, or what you call
‘awareness’.
YAJNA AND NON-VIOLENCE
The next aspect: Yajna has another name - atharva. Atharva means
non-violence. Here non-violence also implies not to be violent in
your words. Some people speak violently, using horrible, very
harsh words. They go on speaking with a very high pitch in their
voice, which is most disturbing, as if they are screaming, as if
they are agitated, as if they are disturbed. Their words are not
soothing. Their words are not sweet.
So, you can be violent by using harsh words. You can be violent by
your actions. By your thoughts, you can be violent. Thought also
communicates. We feel like talking to some people and we don’t
feel like talking to other people. We feel like being close to
some people; we feel like maintaining a respectable distance from
other people. Why? Due to vibration, thought. So, the thought can
also be violent.
By having positive thoughts, good thoughts, you will attract
people. By having bad thoughts, you have to live all by yourself.
The face is the index of the mind. The face will tell us
automatically what thoughts he has behind him.
So, we can be violent by thought, word and deed. We should not be
violent. Let us be non-violent. Words that are soft and sweet are
non-violent. The positive mind is non-violent. Deeds that are
constructive are non-violent. This is atharva.
Yajna has another name - chandas. Chandas is derivative of chat,
which means bliss. This chandas is a Vedic word, which means
bliss. Ultimately, it confers moksha, or liberation, or nirvana.
What is nirvana? What is moksha? Detachment is moksha.
Desirelessness is moksha. Detachment and desirelessness are
moksha. Moksha is not a separate world for which you need a
passport or a visa. The moment you are desireless, you are
liberated. The moment you are detached, you are liberated. That’s
what Bhagavan says.
INNER AND OUTER ASPECTS OF YAJNA
This yajna has two important aspects. One is outer, and the other
is inner.
A simple example: You present a good dress to your son. That is an
outer gesture. But the inner feeling of love is expressed by way
of this gift. Am I not right? You visit me. I give you a memento,
I give you a gift, which is an expression of my love. So, all the
inner activity, all the inner feeling, is the background for the
outer activity. Inner is the base, is the foundation, while the
outer is its expression. Similarly, yajna has these two aspects -
the outer and the inner.
Outer aspects are the homam, havis, fire, everything. That is just
the outer. But what is the inner one? Physical fitness,
psychological alertness, and intellectual awareness are the
advantages, the inner aspects, the inner purpose and the
significance of yajna.
I think I should cover these aspects related to the yajna this
week, although I know that we have one more week to go. We also
have next Sunday at our disposal. But we should also be prepared
for any eventuality later. I don’t want to take a chance. I want
to cover these aspects this week. My friends, I want to draw your
attention to some more aspects.
This whole yajna will help us to develop three important aspects.
What are they? One is heart. Yes! The yajna will help us develop a
heart that is not polluted by hatred or by attachment. The heart
should be unpolluted. It should be pure, crystal clear.
As Bhagavan says, “Raga - dwesha. Raga is attachment and dwesha is
hatred.”
These two evil traits pollute our mind and heart. This yajna, this
spiritual activity, will keep our mind unpolluted. It will keep it
clean and sacred. This is one advantage.
The second purpose behind this yajna is to maintain our speech, to
always center it on the principle of Truth. Under no circumstances
should we utter a lie. Untruth, falsehood or lies pollute our
speech. This process of yajna also assures us of speech that is
unpolluted. So, the mind becomes free from hatred and attachment;
second, the speech becomes free from falsehood and untruth.
The third thing is that the body is unpolluted by violence.
Violence pollutes our body. Violence is not necessarily killing or
murder. No, no, no! By thought, word and deed, we can hurt
anybody. Making the body physically non-violent is the third
point.
Yajna will help us to develop speech, which is full of Truth, a
heart free from hatred and attachment, and finally, a body, which
is free from any violent activity, keeping us pure and sacred.
That is an important aspect, which I wanted to draw to your
attention.
MEDITATION HAPPENS
The next point is also worth consideration. My friends, when we
think of God, when we are all alone by ourselves for some time, in
full concentration, we call it meditation. I want to share this
point with you:
Meditation is not a process. Meditation is not an activity.
Meditation happens. Meditation is never done. If you do it, it is
not meditation. If it happens, it is meditation. Therefore, you
can be in meditation, but you can never do meditation. Am I clear?
You can never do meditation! You can be in meditation -- try to be
and never do!
What do I mean? Once you do, you become a doer. Am I clear? When
you become the doer, naturally, pride and ego are ready to settle
in our head. It is like a snake ready to raise its ugly hood to
attack. When you play the role of a doer, you become proud. When
you take the role of a doer, you will be egoistic. Therefore,
don’t do. Be! You can be in meditation; you cannot do meditation.
GOD – NEITHER SUBJECT NOR OBJECT
My friends, another beautiful idea I can share with you is this:
God is not an object; God is not a subjective experience! Some
people say, “I have experienced God!” But this means, “I am
different from God.” Gone, zero marks. “I have experienced God!”
God is not a subjective experience. God is an experience, that’s
all. He is neither an object nor a subject, but an experience.
Therefore, this yajna will bring us that sort of awareness - to
feel God as an experience. Yes! This is a very important relevant
thing.
Chaitanya
I want to draw your attention this morning to aspiration: The
desire for God should be great. There is one great devotee named
Chaitanya. The word chaitanya means awareness, consciousness.
To quote Swami, “Constant Integrated Awareness.” ‘C.I.A.’ Am I
clear? So, chaitanya is C.I.A. = ‘Constant Integrated Awareness’.
There is a great devotee by name Chaitanya. What did Chaitanya
say? “I don’t want Sri.” S-r-i. Some people say, S-h-r-I, Shri.
You can say ‘Sri’ or ‘Shri’. The meaning of ‘Sri’ is affluence,
prosperity and property.
So, Chaitanya said, “I don’t want Sri, but I want Hari.”
Sri is affluence; Hari is the Master. Hari is God, Lord of Sri.
Sri is Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. Hari is Vishnu, the Master
of Lakshmi.
So Chaitanya says, “I want Hari, God, and not Sri, the property.”
Somebody said, “I see. So, if I don’t want property, is Hari
enough?”
Nobody will give you any accommodation by simply saying, “Hari,
Hari.” You have to pay. You cannot go to the hotel and say, “Hari,
Hari.” It is not possible. The hotelier has to be paid. Am I
clear?
For that, Chaitanya said, “Remember, when you pray to Hari, Sri
will follow. Sri Hari.”
Sri, Lakshmi, wealth follows Hari, Her Master. On the other hand,
if you pray to Sri only, Hari may not follow Her. So, if you pray
to Hari, it is a double advantage. Am I clear? It is a wholesale
deal, not retail. When you pray to God, you will have affluence
also. Sri Hari! Sri follows Hari. That’s what Chaitanya said.
That’s one of the implications of offering your prayers to God.
Instead of praying for that and this, pray to Him, and everything
will be given unto you.
“Seek the Kingdom of Heaven. Everything shall added unto to you,”
says the Holy Bible. Once you seek the Kingdom of Heaven, the
Divine gem Himself, everything shall be added unto you.
BEWARE OF THE POLITICAL MIND, NOT POLITICIANS!
It is important that we be more alert, and make our mind free from
the politics or the gimmicks. Some people want to politicise the
situation: “If I do this yajna, what will I get?”
Repeatedly, Swami says, “I don’t want my students to be
politicians. Beware of politics.”
What does this mean? We find politicians also come here for
darshan. Why does Baba condemn them? Yet Baba says, “I don’t want
my students to be politicians.” What does this mean?
The answer is this: Swami does not condemn a politician. Bhagavan
does not deny the politician. Bhagavan does not reject the
politician. But He does criticise the political mind. Your
political mind is condemned. Your political mind is to be
attacked. The political mind is to be destroyed, not the
politician. I think I am clear. One need not be a politician, yet
he can still be political. Am I right?
A political mind in the queue is someone who avoids poor people,
tries to occupy the front seat, and tries to ask that fellow or
this fellow for a chit to occupy the front row. Taking other’s
credit, trying to get the advantage at every point, standing at a
vantage point whenever Swami comes, while denying the same
advantage to others, are also the expressions of a political mind.
The political mind need not necessarily go with politics and
political parties. The political mind is a manipulating mind. A
political mind is maneuvering. A political mind is management,
exploitation.
Therefore, when Bhagavan says, “Don’t be a politician”, He means
detach from the political mind, the manipulation. Spiritual
activity has nothing to do with a political game, has nothing to
do with political benefits and advantages, whatever they may be.
The moment I become a human being, well, that is the fulfillment
of life. That is the Divinity. Humanity, at its climax, is
Divinity!
Therefore, in full realisation of the human values during this
period of Dasara, I pray to Bhagavan, “May Bhagavan’s choicest
blessings be showered on everybody, on all those who have gathered
here, and on your families as well.”
Thank you very much.
Sai Ram.
Anil Kumar closed his talk by leading the bhajan, “Vibhuthi
Sundara Sai Ram”.
Om Asato Maa Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya
Mrtyormaa Amrtam Gamaya
Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki - Jai!
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki - Jai!
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki - Jai!
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